AUTHORITIES IN Norway and Iceland will find it easier and quicker to repatriate suspected criminals under new legislation published today.
When enacted, the European Arrest Warrant (Application to Third Countries and amendment) and Extradition (Amendment) Bill 2011 will bring into force surrender agreements reached between the two countries and the EU in 2006.
A surrender agreement aims to speed up the transfer of suspects and persons in custody from one country to another.
European arrest warrants from all EU countries are currently valid in Ireland and, once the new legislation is enacted, warrants from Norway and Iceland will be valid here too.
The Bill makes amendments, mainly procedural or technical, to the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003 and the Extradition Act, 1965. It also allows the Minister for Foreign Affairs, after consultation with the Minister for Justice, to make an order applying all or any of the provisions of the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003, to a third country where there is an EU agreement with that country.
It provides that where an individual lodges an appeal against his or her extradition or makes a complaint under the Constitution, the person will not be surrendered until an appeal is heard.
It also clarifies that the High Court may remand a person on bail or in custody pending an appeal to the Supreme Court.
Minister for Justice Alan Shatter, who published the legislation, said the amendments would facilitate the more efficient processing of requests.
